In the 120-year history of Clemson’s football program, the Tigers and their fans have never made a trip to Arizona. That will change this week.

The top-ranked Tigers are bound for the 2016 College Football National Championship in Greater Phoenix, where their fans will have a chance to explore America’s sixth-largest city.

The big game against No. 2 Alabama kicks off Jan. 11, but in the days before and after it, Clemson fans can have a Phoenix pizza party, rub rocks not named “Howard,” and follow the personal recommenda-tions of a pair of former Tigers who now play NFL football in Arizona.

Watch cool video on what Phoenix has to offer:

Party-Worthy Pizza

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney famously kept his promise to throw a pizza party for 30,000 fans when the Tigers were crowned No. 1 in the final CFP standings. So how do Clemson fans top that if the Tigers win it all? Tradition would dictate more pizza.

Luckily for Clemson faithful, Phoenix’s reputation for pizzerias is right up there with New York’s and Chicago’s. In fact, within walking distance of Playoff Fan Central in downtown Phoenix, there are four pizza purveyors who have either won a James Beard Award, been featured on national TV, or earned certification from Vera Pizza Napoletana (an Italian trade association that authenticates and promotes the pizza standards of Naples).

Pizzeria Bianco: New York Times food critic Ed Levine wrote that Chris Bianco—the only pizza maker ever to win a Best Chef award from the James Beard Foundation—crafts what “might just be the best pizza in the world.”

La Piazza PHX: This is the sister restaurant of La Piazza al Forno (located 10 minutes from University of Phoenix Stadium), which was fawned over by Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Its brick-oven pizzas are certified “true Neapolitan” by Vera Pizza Napoletana.

Pomo Pizzeria: Pomo’s pizzas have also earned the V.P.N. the stamp of approval. Chef Matteo Schia-vone uses a slow-rising sourdough made from organic wheat flour and bakes each pizza for just 60-90 seconds at 905 degrees in a hand-built oven.

Cibo: This pizzeria and wine bar occupies a restored 1913 house in the hip Roosevelt Row district and features one of downtown Phoenix’s most romantic outdoor patios. In addition to wood-fired Neapol-itan pizzas, Cibo serves antipasti, salads and pastas.

For more pizza-related story ideas, check out Slices of Heaven, one Phoenix writer’s quest to eat her way through the upper crust of the city’s formidable pizza scene.

Touch a rock, run down a hillThe Clemson football team’s ritual of rubbing Howard’s Rock before charging into Death Valley is one of the best traditions in college sports. Fans can honor that tradition in Phoenix by laying their hands (and shoe soles) on the rocky summits of the city’s most famous geological landmarks, Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak.

The former is a rocky formation that resembles a dromedary camel in repose, and hiking the rugged trail to the mountain’s 2,700-foot “hump” is a hallowed (if strenuous) tradition for local outdoors en-thusiasts.

Piestewa Peak—named in honor of Army Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa, the first known Native Ameri-can soldier to die in combat—is also climbed thousands of times per week by locals and visitors; its 2,600-foot summit is the third-highest point in the city.

Each of these urban hiking destinations is located about 20 minutes from Playoff Fan Central in down-town Phoenix. Even closer is South Mountain Park and Preserve, which features more than 50 miles of trails and encompasses 16,000 acres, making it nearly 20 times bigger than Central Park in New York.

These hiking options (and many more) are detailed in the downloadable Phoenix Trail Guide, which is a great resource for visiting fans who want to make the most of Phoenix’s sunny weather and desert scenery.

Phoenix’s ‘front seven’Clemson fans have likely heard enough about the Alabama defense’s vaunted “front seven”. Enough about that. Here are seven don’t-miss attractions/activities in Phoenix that are much more fun to nav-igate than the Tide’s defensive line:

1. Camelback MountainPhoenix’s most famous landmark resembles a dromedary camel in repose and challenges hikers with a rugged but rewarding trek to its 2,700-foot “hump”.

2. Desert Botanical GardenA stroll through this beautiful outdoor museum immerses visitors in a world of exotic desert plants—and not just those native to the Southwest.

3. Musical Instrument MuseumThis must-see museum showcases more than 15,000 instruments—including the last guitar Elvis played in concert. On display now is an exhibit honoring Johnny Cash and the Carter Family.

4. Roosevelt RowUSA Today included this downtown-Phoenix district in a recent list of “The 10 Best Neighborhoods Tourists Haven’t Found Yet,” writing that it “gives urban explorers every reason to visit: an indie cinema, cool shops galore, unusual restaurants, coffee houses, and a steady stream of new galler-ies.”

5. Taliesin WestThis was the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect. It’s open to the public for tours.

6. Heard MuseumThis famous museum provides insight into Arizona’s 22 Native American tribes. (And its gift shop is one of the best places in Phoenix to buy artful souvenirs.)

7. Biltmore Fashion ParkLocated near the famed Arizona Biltmore resort, this shopping destination has a garden-park courtyard and plenty of dining options and UNION, a wing of local shops and boutiques.

Tiger-Approved RecommendationsA pair of former Clemson Tigers—place kicker Chandler Catanzaro and running back Andre Ellington—now play for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and make their homes in the Phoenix area. Here are their Phoenix picks:

When friends visit you in Arizona, where do you take them for a fun/entertainment?Cantanzaro: My buddies from home came this past weekend and I took them to Top Golf. Top Golf is a great spot. Lots of fun. Great food, too, if you want to have dinner there.Ellington: We hang out at Scottsdale Fashion Square or go to Top Golf.

What’s your favorite concert/music venue in the Phoenix area?Cantanzaro: I’ve only been to one concert at Gila River Arena, and it was pretty sweet. Saw Kenny Chesney there.Ellington: My favorite was when the Drake and Lil’ Wayne tour came to Ak-Chin Pavilion.

What’s your favorite thing to do outdoors in Arizona?Cantanzaro: I recently went up to Sedona with my family. It’s about a 2-hour trip to get up there, but it’s definitely worth the drive.Ellington: I like hiking Camelback Mountain.

The best thing about living in Arizona is …Cantanzaro: The weather in the winter. We’re spoiled here. You can’t beat 65, 70 degrees in Decem-ber and January.Ellington: The weather.

For more ideas about things to do before and after the CFP National Championship, Clemson fans can visit www.visitphoenix.com, the official travel resource for Greater Phoenix."